Emblematic Parallelism

1 Nephi 5:56-1 Nephi 5:60

(First Half-sets up women nourishing Lehi's grandchildren)

 

And we did travail and wade through much affliction in the wilderness;

And our women bore children in the wilderness;
And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children and were strong, yea, even like unto the men;

And they began to bear their journeyings without murmuring.

 

(Second half, the emblematic parallelism of God Nourishing His children)

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled;
And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God,

   He doth nourish them

   and strengthen them

   and provide ways and means whereby they can accomplish the thing which He hath commanded them;
Wherefore, He did provide ways and means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

(LDS: 1 Nephi 17:3)

 

___

 

2 Nephi 2:9 

(Darkness is explained as 'hidden' darkness; light is explained as freedom)

 

That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days

    in the Spirit of power,

Unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light.

   yea, out of hidden darkness,

   and out of captivity unto freedom. 

 (LDS: 2 Nephi 3:5)

Mosiah 8:82 

(Light and Life are explained as endless light, endless life)

 

He is the light and the life of the world;

   Yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened;

   Yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. 

 (LDS: Mosiah 16:9)

 

Mosiah 8:80-81 

(The resurrection of Christ explains how death has no victory.  Antithetical parallelism and Chiastic Parallelism exist in this emblematic parallelism)

 

And if Christ had not risen from the dead,

   or have broken the bands of death 

    that the grave should have no victory

      and that death should have no sting,

       there could have been no resurrection.

       But there is a resurrection;

     Therefore, the grave hath no victory,

   And the sting of death 

is swallowed up in Christ.

(LDS: Mosiah 16:7)

 

1 Nephi 1:0 

(Nephi's opening words are summarized in an emblematic parallelism, that the record was written by him).

 

An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah and his four sons, being called, beginning at the eldest, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the Land of Jerusalem because he prophesieth unto the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life.He taketh three days' journey into the wilderness with his family.Nephi taketh his brethren and returns to the Land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. The account of their sufferings.They take the daughters of Ishmael to wife.They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness.The course of their travels. They come to the large waters.Nephi's brethren rebelleth against him. He confoundeth them and buildeth a ship.They call the name of the place Bountiful.They cross the large waters into the Promised Land, etc.

This is according to the account of Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record. 

(LDS: 1 Nephi 1:0)

1 Nephi 2:41 

('Or in other words' defines the emblematic parallelism that Lehi's dream was actually 'seeing a vision'.)

And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness, he spake unto us, saying:

Behold, I have dreamed a dream.

Or in other words, I have seen a vision; 

(LDS: 1 Nephi 8:2)

1 Nephi 3:24-1 Nephi 3:25

(This verse contains multiple parallelisms. This emblematic parallelism explains that the 'Son of God' was the Messiah prophesied. This is also Anadiplosis, where ending phrases begin following lines.  Also a climactic parallel, building to the Son of God being the Messiah)

 

And also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost,

    Which power he received by faith on the Son of God,
And the Son of God was the Messiah which should come.

(LDS: 1 Nephi 10:17)

1 Nephi 3:4 

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem,

A Prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews.

Yea, even a Messiah.

   Or in other words a Savior of the world. 

(LDS: 1 Nephi 10:4)

1 Nephi 3:19 

(This emblematic parallelism defines grafting as coming to a knowledge of Jesus.)

 

Or, in fine, that after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree

or the remnants of the house of Israel

 should be grafted in or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah,

their Lord and their Redeemer. 

(LDS: 1 Nephi 10:14)

1 Nephi 5:56-1 Nephi 5:60

And we did travail and wade through much affliction in the wilderness;

And our women bore children in the wilderness;
And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children and were strong, yea, even like unto the men;

And they began to bear their journeyings without murmuring.

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled;
And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God,

   He doth nourish them and strengthen them

   And provide ways and means whereby they can accomplish the thing which He hath commanded them;

Wherefore He did provide ways and means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

(LDS: 1 Nephi 17:3)

1 Nephi 5:232-1 Nephi 5:235

(Nephi explains that to 'trample under feet' is to set at naught.  He summarizes that for people to trample God under feet is to set at naught his counsel.' This is EXACTLY Jeff Benner's definition of to set at naught, yet Jeff Benner came to understand this by knowledge of Hebrew.  How is it that the book of Mormon explanation of 'trample under feet' perfectly matches the Hebrew definition of scholars?)

 

For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet;

Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet;

I say trample under their feet,

   but I would speak in other words. (the emblematic parallelism follows)
They do set Him at naught and hearken not to the voice of His counsels

(LDS: 1 Nephi 19:7)

1 Nephi 5:245-1 Nephi 5:247

(Emblematic parallel explains the 'voice of God' being by blessing or punishment)

 

For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day -
Some with His voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation,
And others with the thunderings and the lightnings of His power.

   By tempest,

   by fire,

   and by smoke and vapor of darkness,

   and by the opening of the earth,

   and by mountains which shall be carried up.

(LDS: 1 Nephi 19:11)

2 Nephi 6:46 

(Living creature defined emblematically as men, women, children)

 

For behold, He suffereth the pains of all men,

   Yea, the pains of every living creature

    both men and women and children.

which belong to the family of Adam; 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:21)

2 Nephi 6:47 

(Emblematic explains 'resurrection' as when 'all stand before him.')

 

And He suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men,

   that all might stand before Him at the great and judgment day. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:22)

2 Nephi 7:35-2 Nephi 7:37

(Emblematic parallelism explains that the Lords great promises extend to Israelites. Isle of the Sea is a Hebrewism defining lands across the ocean (from Israel)).

 

For the Lord hath made the sea our path

    And we are upon an isle of the sea.
But great are the promises of the Lord unto they which are upon the isles of the sea.
Wherefore, as it saith isles,

    There must needs be more than this.

And they are inhabited also by our brethren;
(LDS: 2 Nephi 10:21)

2 Nephi 11:106 

(Emblematic parallelism explaining priestcraft)

 

He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts.

For behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world.

    that they may get gain and praise of the world.

But they seek not the welfare of Zion. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 26:29)

2 Nephi 11:116 

(This emblematic parallelism is extremely important.  It defines 'last days' as 'days of Gentiles.'  This can be enlightening to read Old Testament Joel's writings, restated on the day of Pentecost.  This explains what biblical people understood, that last days meant 'days where the gospel goes to the Gentiles.'  This is why it was said on the day of Pentecost.  It was a Hebraism understood by the Hebrews.  Last days did not mean, as we Gentiles misunderstand the biblical record, to mean the 'end of days.'

Also note the synthetic parallel contained within of 'this land, other lands, all lands.'  This is powerful writing. )

But behold, in the last days,

or in the days of the Gentiles,

Yea, behold, all the nations of the Gentiles,

  and also the Jews –

Both they which shall come upon this land,

   And they which shall be upon other lands,

yea, even upon all the lands of the earth

Behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations. 

(LDS: 2 Nephi 27:1)

Mosiah 5:44-45 

(Another extremely important Emblematic Parallelism, explaining that God taking on the image of man meant God would come down to earth and take on flesh and blood.)

And because he saith unto them that Christ was the God,

   The Father of all things,

   And saith that He should take upon Him the image of man,

   And it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning.

Or in other words,

He said that man was created after the image of God,

And that God should come down among the children of men

   And take upon Him flesh and blood.

 And go forth upon the face of the earth; 

(LDS: Mosiah 7:27)

Mosiah 5:79 

And by them shall all things be revealed,

   or rather shall secret things be made manifest

   and hidden things shall come to light,

And things which are not known shall be made known by them; 

(LDS: Mosiah 8:17)

Mosiah 7:43 

Now the eyes of the people were blinded;

    Therefore, they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi

And they sought from that time forward to take him; 

(LDS: Mosiah 11:29)

Mosiah 8:82-Mosiah 8:83

(Here the Emblematic Parallels define light and life as as endless object and an endless condition)

He is the light and the life of the world;

Yea, a light that is endless,

   that can never be darkened;

Yea, and also a life which is endless,

   that there can be no more death.
Even this mortal shall put on immortality,

  And this corruption shall put on incorruption

   and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God.

To be judged of Him according to their works, (Ellipsis, 'to be brought')

   whether they be good

   or whether they be evil.
(LDS: Mosiah 16:10)

Mosiah 8:43 

(Emblematic defines 'Jesus seed' as those who inherit God's kingdom)

 

I say unto you, that these are His seed,

or they are heirs of the kingdom of God, 

(LDS: Mosiah 15:11)

Mosiah 8:54 

But behold, the bands of death shall be broken,

    And the Son reigneth and hath power over the dead;

Therefore, He bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. 

(LDS: Mosiah 15:20)

Mosiah 8:56 

(Emblematic defines 'first resurrection.')

And now the resurrection of all the prophets

   and all those that have believed in their words,

    or all those that have kept the commandments of God,

These shall come forth in the first resurrection.

Therefore they are the first resurrection; 

(LDS: Mosiah 15:22)

Alma 7:16-Alma 7:18

(Emblematic of being 'cut off' is to not keep the commandments)

 

And again, it is said that Inasmuch as ye will not keep My commandments, ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
Now, I would that ye should remember that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord.
Now, we see that the word of the Lord hath been verified in this thing.

And the Lamanites have been cut off from His presence from the beginning of their transgressions in the land.

(LDS: Alma 9:14)

 

Alma 8:3 

Staircase Parallelism

 

And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi,

   Who was the son of Lehi,

   Who came out of the Land of Jerusalem,

   Who was a descendant of Manasseh,

   Who was the son of Joseph,

Which was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren. 

(LDS: Alma 10:3)

Alma 9:40-Alma 9:41

(Emblematic definition of this life)

 

And we see that death comes upon mankind,

   Yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek,

Which is the temporal death;

Nevertheless, there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent.
Therefore, this life became a probationary state,

    A time to prepare to meet God,

   A time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us,

Which is after the resurrection of the dead.
(LDS: Alma 12:24)

Alma 9:70-Alma 9:71

(Emblematic parallelism explaining priesthood is after the order of God.  Is nothing related to the notion of a 'Melchizedek Priesthood.')

 

This high priesthood being after the order of His Son,

  Which order was from the foundation of the world.
Or in other words,

   Being without beginning of days or end of years,

   Being prepared from eternity to all eternity.

According to His foreknowledge of all things.

(LDS: Alma 13:7)

Alma 14:12 

(Emblematic parallelism explaining rebellion was symbolized by fighting against people and God).

 

They did lay down the weapons of their rebellion

   That they did not fight against God anymore,

Neither against any of their brethren. 

(LDS: Alma 23:7)

Alma 14:47 

(Emblematic parallelism transforming warring weapons into peaceful symbols)

 

And thus we see that they buried the weapons of peace,

   or they buried the weapons of war for peace. 

(LDS: Alma 24:19)

Alma 15:42 

(Emblematic parallelism explaining how the antidote to sorrow is prayer and fasting)

And now surely this was a sorrowful day,

   yea, a time of solemnity and a time of much fasting and prayer.

And thus ended the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. 

(LDS: Alma 28:7)

Alma 15:51 

(Sorrow and joy explained emblematically. Antithetical parallel between sorrow and joy, death of men and life in Christ)

 

And thus we see the great call of the diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord;

And thus we see the great reason of sorrow,

   and also of rejoicing.

Sorrow,

   because of death and destruction among men,

And joy,

   because of the light of Christ unto life. 

(LDS: Alma 28:14)

Alma 16:137-Alma 16:138

(Emblematic parallel explaining the superior benefit of believing without being compelled to believe or be humble)

 

Yea, he that truly humbleth himself

   And repenteth of his sins

   And endureth to the end.

The same shall be blessed.

  Yea, much more blessed than they who art compelled to be humble

     because of their exceeding poverty;

 

Therefore, blessed are they who humbleth themselves

   without being compelled to be humble.
Or rather in other words,

Blessed is he that believeth in the word of god

    and is baptized without stubbornness of heart,

Yea, without being brought to know the word,

   or even compelled to know,

Before they will believe.

(LDS: Alma 32:16)

Alma 16:213-Alma 16:214

(Emblematic parallelism explaining the 'infinite atonement of God' ending the sacrifice of animals.  It will be a great and last sacrifice.)

 

But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered;

Therefore, there is nothing which is short of an infinite atonement

   Which will suffice for the sins of the world,

Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice.
And then shall there be,

   Or it is expedient there should be,

A stop to the shedding of blood,

Then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled,

   Yea, it shall all be fulfilled,

   Every jot and tittle,

And none shall have passed away.

(LDS: Alma 34:13)

Alma 17:22-Alma 17:23

(Emblematic parallelism explaining repentance as being changed by God and filled with the Holy Ghost, to see life anew)

Yea, and from that time even until now,

I have labored without ceasing

that I might bring souls unto repentance.

That I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste

That they might also be born of God

   and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceeding great joy in the fruits of my labors,

For because of the word which He hath imparted unto me,

   Behold, many hath been born of God,

   and hath tasted as I have tasted,

And hath seen eye to eye as I have seen.

(LDS: Alma 36:26)

 

Alma 17:11 

(Emblematic parallelism explaining murder in Alma's case was to deceive and lead people away from God)

Yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God

   And that I had not kept His holy commandments,

   Yea, and I had murdered many of His children,

Or rather, led them away unto destruction. 

(LDS: Alma 36:14)

Alma 19:29 

(Emblematic parallelism defines resurrection as when mortal changes to immortality. 'Corruption' is 'that which dies,' becomes that which cannot die anymore)

 

Behold, I say unto you that there is no resurrection –

 Or I would say in other words,

that this mortal does not put on immortality,

this corruption does not put on incorruption,

Until after the coming of Christ.

(LDS: Alma 40:2)

Alma 19:54 

(Emblematic parallelism defining coming forth at the time of resurrection.)

 

Let it suffice that I say that they all come forth.

Or in other words,

   their resurrection cometh to pass

   before the resurrection of those which die after the resurrection of Christ. 

(LDS: Alma 40:19)

Alma 21:157-Alma 21:158

(Emblematic parallelism expands that being prepared for battle was specifically how Moroni prepared them for battle)

 

But behold, to their uttermost astonishment,

they were prepared for them in a manner which never had been known among all the children of Lehi.
Now they were prepared for the Lamanites,

    to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni.

(LDS: Alma 49:8)

Alma 21:51 

(Emblematic parallelism explains to transgress would be shame in taking on the name of Christ.)

 

Or in other words,

   if they should trangress the commandments of God,

   Or fall into transgression and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ,

The Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments. 

(LDS: Alma 46:21)

Alma 21:137 

(Emblematic parallelism expands God 'prospering them' was to 'warn them or prepare for war.')

 

And this was their faith.

 That by so doing God would prosper them in the land,

Or in other words,

    If they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God,

    That He would prosper them in the land,

Yea, warn them to flee

   Or to prepare for war,

According to their danger, 

(LDS: Alma 48:15)

Alma 21:146 

(Emblematic parallelism expanding on the sorrow to take up arms)

 

Now they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites

   because they did not delight in the shedding of blood.

Yea, and this was not all,

They were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal world unprepared to meet their God; 

(LDS: Alma 48:23)

Helaman 2:55-Helaman 2:56

(Emblematic parallelism expanding on being stiff-necked -> disregarding Laws ->disregarding God.)

 

Yea, they began to remember the prophecies of Alma

   and also the words of Mosiah.

And they saw that they had been a stiff-necked people,

   And that they had set at naught the commandments of God;
And that they had altered and trampled under their feet the laws of Mosiah

   or that which the Lord commanded him to give unto the people.

(LDS: Helaman 4:22)

Helaman 4:51 

Yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts,

   and do forget the Lord their God,

   and do trample under their feet the Holy One;

Yea, and this because of their ease and their exceeding great prosperity. 

(LDS: Helaman 12:2)

Helaman 4:56 

Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God who hath created them should rule and reign over them;

   Notwithstanding His great goodness and His mercy toward them.

They do set at naught His counsels,

   And they will not that He should be their guide. 

(LDS: Helaman 12:6)

Helaman 5:71-Helaman 5:72

(This Emblematic parallelism explains resurrection with an Antithetical Parallelism to not be hewn down and cast into fire.)

But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind –

   yea, even all mankind.

And bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.
    Yea, and it bringeth to pass the conditions of repentance,

That whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire.

(LDS: Helaman 14:18)

Helaman 5:99-Helaman 5:100

(Emblematic parallelism explaining Faith.  This is the Hebrew definition of Emunah—to be firm and steadfast.  Jeff Benner explains this the same way by Hebrew definition, even though the Bible does not contain a good verse defining faith (Emunah) as being firm and Steadfast.)

 

For behold, they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies

   and will not lift their swords against them.

And this because of their faith in Christ.
And now because of their steadfastness –

  when they do believe in that thing which they do believe.

For because of their firmness when they are once enlightened.

Behold the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days,

    notwithstanding their iniquity.

(LDS: Helaman 15:10)

 

Helaman 5:6-Helaman 5:7

(This Emblematic parallelism explains God's Sword of Justice as heavy destruction.)

And he said unto them:

Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which He doth put into my heart;

And behold, He hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people;

   And four hundred years passeth not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people
Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people;

And it surely cometh unto this people

    and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Which surely shall come into the world.

 And shall suffer many things.

And shall be slain for His people.  (Ellipsis)

(LDS: Helaman 13:6)

 

3 Nephi 3:15-3 Nephi 3:16

(This Emblematic parallelism explains true faith as being firm, steadfast, immovable.  See Jeff Benner's definition of Emunah (faith) is exactly how the Book of Mormon defines it, as being firm, steadfast, immovable.)

And thus there became a great inequality in all the land,

   insomuch that the church began to be broken up;

Yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land,   

   save it were among a few of the Lamanites

   which were converted unto the true faith.
And they would not depart from it.

For they were firm and steadfast and immovable,

   willing with all diligence to keep the commands of the Lord.

(LDS: 3 Nephi 6:14)

3 Nephi 7:28 

(This Emblematic parallelism explains being 'brought in' physically will pair with being brought to know Jesus spiritually.)

 

That these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shalt be manifested unto the Gentiles.

That through the fullness of the Gentiles,

   the remnant of their seed which shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief

may be brought in.

or may be brought to a knowledge of Me their Redeemer; 

(LDS: 3 Nephi 16:4)

Mormon 1:38-Mormon 1:40

(This Emblematic parallelism explains through the antithesis that not having a broken heart and contrite spirit results in losing the opportunity for grace, to rather rebel openly against God.)

And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits,  

   But they did curse God and wish to die;
Nevertheless, they would struggle with the sword for their lives.

And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again;

And I saw that the day of grace was passed with them,

    both temporally and spiritually,

For I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land.

(LDS: Mormon 2:15)

Mormon 2:6 

(This Emblematic parallelism displays how God carries judgment against wicked men through the acts of other wicked men)

 

But behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked;

   And it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished;

For it is the wicked that stirreth up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed. 

(LDS: Mormon 4:5)

Mormon 2:46 

(This Emblematic parallelism explains that Christ is God the Father, the one who leads in all cases).

They were once a delightsome people

    And they had Christ for their Shepherd,

Yea, they were led even by God the Father; 

(LDS: Mormon 5:17)

Mormon 3:18-Mormon 3:20

(This Emblematic parallelism displays departing from the Lord's ways is to reject the Lord. This is also a Synthetic and Synonymous parallelism)

 

And my soul was rent with anguish because of the slain of my people,

And I cried O ye fair ones,

   how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord!

O ye fair ones,

how could ye have rejected that Jesus who stood with open arms to receive you.

   Behold, if ye had not done this,

   ye would not have fallen;

But behold, ye are fallen

   and I mourn your loss;
O ye fair sons and daughters,

   ye fathers and mothers,

   ye husbands and wives,

ye fair ones.

How is it that ye could have fallen!
(LDS: Mormon 6:19)